“An old dog for a hard road; puppies for pavements”

The featured image shows Strathearn CEO Matt Downie, Kate Mailer, Jim Clarke OAM and Bill Howey at the official opening of Strathearn House on Sunday 17th July 2017

Jim Clark OAM

There is little doubt that after our illustrious founder Dr Walter Osmond Pye MBE the late Jim Clark OAM has made the greatest single contribution to the Upper Hunter Village Association (UHVA) now known as Strathearn Village.

Jim Clark was a member of the very first board of the UHVA in 1972. He gave more than 45 years of dedicated service to the seminal organisation devoted to care for the needy aging cohort in our community. Jim was selfless in his commitment, devotion, determination, passion, zeal and stamina. Jim went well above and beyond the generally accepted ‘norms’ of voluntary community service. Never afraid to get stuck in Jim led the team to fit curtains to the first nursing home in Stafford Street. Supervised by Mrs Beryl Hearns the curtains and screens were assembled over three days in Scout Hall in Main Street. Clark’s furniture store supplied all the materials at cost. Residents allocated to the inaugural 28 beds were able to make their own selection. Audrey Entwisle, Judith Smith, Judith Archibald and Helen Mary Street formed the cutting, pinning, sewing and ironing claque. Jim and his cadre hung all the curtains one Saturday. It mattered little that some readjustment by Mrs Hearns was necessary.

Jim Clark was one of three UHVA board members who collected rents from residents in Villa Maria, Park Street, Joan Street and Susan Street Villas. This kept the organisation afloat. In addition Jim provided a very personal honorary service for as many as twelve severely restricted lady residents by doing their weekly shopping for them. This was entirely in keeping with his mantra and sometimes left him a few dollars short himself. All this pre-empted the many similar services now provided by Strathearn Village and other suppliers. This was selfless devotion at its very best. It surprised no-one and delighted most when Jim Clark was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Jim Clark must have seemed like Santa Claus to some of these confined and constricted residents. In fact Santa Claus was another role Jim performed annually throughout the community. Jim stuck with the organisation throughout the vicissitudes of re-invention, re-branding and re-emergence as Strathearn Village. The construction of Strathearn House on Gundy Road gave him enormous satisfaction. It was most fitting that Jim Clark OAM was the special guest at the official opening of the new facility on Sunday 17^th July 2016. It was poetic justice that Jim was able avail himself, albeit it briefly, of its exceptional facilities towards the very end of his long and productive life. RIP Jim Clark OAM

W. P. H.

22/06/2017

Footnote:

Within a very short space of time (December 2017) the formerly community owned Strathearn Village became a fully owned subsidiary of HammondCare. Jim Clarke would not have been amused!

Geoff and Beryl White

Photo:    Geoff White and the Author with the 5 Melbourne Cups

One of Australia’s most successful owner/breeder combinations chose to call Scone home in their twilight years. They were Geoff and Beryl White. Their story is inspiring; their road to success astounding. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industry has always regarded Geoff & Beryl as a team. It’s perfectly true. Geoff was first to go and Beryl prevails. I will restrict this dissertation to Geoff who I knew better.

I was privileged to serve with Geoff on many committees since he established his Scone base in 1994. Before that we were both Councillors on the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. Geoff had a lot to do with the horse committee and the new developments at the RAS of NSW. As an engineer his skills were much in demand for the relocation from Moore Park to Homebush Bay. The new Sydney Showgrounds were completed within 364 days in time for the first opening at the new venue in 1998. It was a modern day miracle. Geoff was always confident it could be done. He was right. The site needed to be ready for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The three Royal Easter Shows leading up to the Olympics (1998, 1999, 2000) were the dress rehearsals. Its history now what a fabulous Olympic Games Sydney provided.

Back in Scone Geoff was a tower of strength on the Hunter Valley Equine Research Foundation and Centre. In fact he was their salvation. He implemented more than one rescue package when most needed without any fuss or fanfare. His taciturn wisdom could always be relied upon for many other projects involving racing, sales and education. I was very pleased with his presence on more than one occasion when the meretricious element threatened to take over. Geoff was always pragmatic; forever practical. Sound common sense prevailed.

I recall sitting next to Des Gleeson at the opening of our Melbourne Cup extravaganza on Friday 15^th October 2010. Geoff and Beryl walked in just as proceedings were about to start. Des immediately recognised them. It added enormous cachet to have people of their calibre in the assembly. The credibility indicator went through the ceiling at that time. Amanda Elliott was also very quick on the uptake. I felt very good indeed with a glow of inner warmth.

As usual with other racing luminaries I rely on my journalist cadre to provide the professional commentary. Thank you again Brian Russell and Allan Wells with Harriet Veitch.

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Russ Lazarus

The featured image shows Russ proudly holding his beloved Kensei Cup (1987) flanked by daughter Yvonne and son Mike. Harley Walden is on the far left. Harley was also a tower of strength on the organising committee. The other cups are Poitrel (1920), Rimfire (1948), VRC 2010 Melbourne Cup (Americain) and Evening Peel (1956).

Russ Lazarus was a great contributor. He cherished the final thirty years of his life in Scone where he always longed to be. I treasure many memories of Russ not least his Sutton Farm Award Christmas Parties every year. I was the fortunate recipient of an award myself. I think it was for ‘masterly inactivity and/or vigorous inaction’; possibly a combination of both? Apparently I recommended that Russ should NOT spend a lot of money on the treatment of a particular chronic aliment in one of his horses? This was soon after he first came to Scone. I explained ‘tincture of time’ was the best and cheapest cure. He never forgot what I had said although I have little or no recollection. He had also seen Sarah and I cleaning the steps of the Civic Theatre early one Sunday morning. We took affirmative action. They hadn’t been touched for over five years. Russ liked that sort of volunteer proactivity.

It was when we agreed to host the VRC Melbourne Cup promotional tour in 2010 that Russ really sprang into action. It was a first love. I was the facilitator as a Councillor of the host Upper Hunter Shire Council. Russ was the custodian of 1987 Melbourne Cup winner Kensei which he owned in partnership. This started a ‘cascade of cups’. We ended up with five on the day (15/10/2010). Russ was my right hand man. We cajoled, coerced and paroled as one. Russ and his family were exhilarated with the response.

The following funeral notice for Russ Lazarus appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on November 28^th 2015.

LAZARUS Russell Joseph of Scone & formerly of Oatley, passed away peacefully at home in Scone on Tuesday 24.11.2015, Aged 83 Years; Beloved husband of Dorothy (deceased) beloved father of Michael, Paul and Yvonne, Father In-law to Anne and Matthew; Grandfather to James and Jonathon and partners Guissel and Naomi; Beloved brother to Ron and Kevin (deceased) and niece Debbie.

A Funeral Service for Russell will be held on TUESDAY (December 1st 2015) at 1pm in St Luke’s Anglican Church Scone, followed by Private Cremation.

Russ had played a great innings and contributed so much to Scone and the thoroughbred industry he loved. I adduce the following tributes from Caitlin Andrews and Brain Russell. They are much more adept at accolades than I am. Thank you both. They each paint a beautiful word picture truly reflective of the man.

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Reg Watts

The featured image shows Reg Watts competing on Norma’s son ‘Norman’ at the Rouchel Rodeo in 1947. Norman wasn’t a patch on his dam.

Reg Watts was the legend in Campdrafting. Even today you can find evidence of Reg’s prowess all over Scone. Like Shorty Cribb his name adorns the honour rail surrounding the Coronation Park Memorial dedicated to Roughriders and Campdrafters. Photographs of him and his famous mare ‘Norma’ adorn the galleries in the front bar of the Belmore Hotel and Chris Winter’s Barbers Shop in Liverpool Street. Some old timers with good memories still talk of him in hushed and reverent tones.

Reg’s personal story is no less engaging; and perhaps shrouded in mystery? The Watts clan have been prolific and firmly entrenched in Scone and the Upper Hunter throughout the 20^th century. The appellations ‘horseman’ and ‘Watts’ go together. Many clan members excelled at horse sport activities. Reg was perhaps the ‘Prince of Performers’. His best campdrafter was the incomparable ‘Norma’. Reg won no less than 16 consecutive competitions before WWII. This stellar tally has never been remotely approached before or since; let alone achieved. W. H. Mackay from ‘Tinagroo’ gave the mare to Reg. Bluey Holcombe always claimed in Chris Winter’s barber’s chair: “He’s a Mackay you know” when speaking of Reg. It’s a moot point at best. Bill Mackay had no known children. However there must have been a close bond. Perhaps W. H. Mackay recognised Reg’s exquisite early promise and donated a mare he knew would enable him to fully exploit his talents? Bill Mackay was well known for this sort of philanthropy.

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Beersheba & Midnight

The featured image shows Major Guy Haydon on ‘Midnight’

This is a story too good to miss. It really resonates around the Upper Hunter leading up to the 100 years anniversary of the original charge in 1917. Peter Haydon from Blandford has been especially proactive with very good reason. I am very proud to have played a fundamental role in Peter’s Scone Horse Festival VIP Award in 2009.

See: https://www.abc.net.au/landline/the-last-charge:-the-brave-deeds-of-both-horse-and/9073372

Peter Haydon was born in Scone, the Horse Capital of Australia, in 1955 a fifth generation horseman from Bloomfield Homestead, Blandford which was settled by the pioneering Haydon Family in 1832. Peter is the current owner operator of Haydon Horse Stud with this wife Alison and sons Henry, Nick and David. It is one of the oldest continually run family horse studs and produces top quality horses which are performing on the world stage.

Peter has a Bachelor of Commerce, worked in business in Sydney and London, managed the polo stables for HRH the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle as a professional player and was Scone Horse Festival VIP in 2009 in recognition for his services to the horse industry.

He has compiled a story about his great uncle Guy Haydon and his horse from Bloomfield, Midnight who died saving his life in the Charge of Beersheba.

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Dr Judy White AM PhD

The featured image I chose is of Dr Judy White just after delivering the inaugural Patrick White Oration at the Scone Literary Long Week End in early October 2015.

I am immensely proud to have known Dr Judy White AM PhD of ‘Belltrees Station’ for over 50 years. I was preparing an encomium myself when I uncovered the following coruscating tribute from a much younger woman. Thank you Caitlin Andrews of ‘The Scone Advocate’. I know how much this award meant to Judy. I’ve enjoyed a small association myself with the University of Newcastle.

Dr White has covered the full social spectrum of the Hunter Valley since its earliest settlement. She has focused on its horses and people producing sparkling historical tributes to both species. She has many passions; family comes first. As I compose this I have just assisted Judy with setting up her most recent display at the UHSC Scone Visitor Information Centre. It’s about horses and their mouthing bits. She has an eclectic collection. This is about the 10^th such occasion we have shared this type of exhibition. Judy has achieved the most. I have referred to some of them in my ‘Blog’; notably ‘The Olympians’. When Judy called me over the week end I was at Hawks Nest. She wanted me onsite at 9:30am on Monday morning. I was there before time; but after Judy! When Dr White says ‘jump’ I say ‘how high’. I’m not alone.

As fellow authors we have much in common. The featured image I chose is of Dr Judy White just after delivering the inaugural Patrick White Oration at the Scone Literary Long Week End in early October 2015. I set her up for this. I felt a little guilty at the time. I shouldn’t have. Judy was absolutely brilliant! The very first person to congratulate her was close neighbour Phillip Adams AO. They are from different ends of the political spectrum but both stratospheric in achievement. The sentiments were genuine. Suddenly it was all worth it. Another occasion when Judy really came to the fore was the Melbourne Cup Celebration we hosted on Friday 15^th October 2017. Judy’s involvement with the famous race includes family connection with ‘Archer’ and Etienne De Mestre in 1861 and 1862. The Hon James White from her husband’s family was the dual leviathan winner with ‘Chester’ in 1877 and Martini Henry in 1883.

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Laurie Morgan

See: http://www.warwickmorgan.com/

Laurie Morgan, dual Olympic gold medalist, heavyweight boxing champion, outstanding rower, tenacious Australian Rules footballer, successful racehorse breeder and trainer, international polo player and victorious equestrian for Australia, was an extraordinary man who fought his way to the top.

Laurie and his family were residents of Scone and district from 1941 until the early-1950s. Their home was at ‘Redbank’ on Dartbrook Creek, Moobi which Laurie had purchased from the establishment Badgery Family. Laurie and his cohorts developed the property into a successful thoroughbred stud. The first stallions to stand there were ‘Valiant Chief’ and ‘Port Vista’. The latter later burgeoned at Ron Barr’s stud at Windsor. Laurie also vigorously pursued his conjoint passions for Polo, Racing and Equestrian brilliance. He excelled at all of them. When based in Scone he was in the right place at the right time. His name appears on the Committee of the Scone Race Club throughout the era of development of White Park Race Track.

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Scaling the Heights

I know it’s a hoary old cliché but I promise this title was the very first thought which sprang to mind after watching the inaugural running of ‘The Everest’ at Randwick yesterday Saturday 14^th October 2017. Chris Roots wrote in the ‘The Sun Herald Sports’: “Snowdons scale new heights in classic win”. He stole my line! Mind you I’ve purloined a few of his in the past. There will always be only one inaugural winner. That’s perennially and interminably unique. It’s a very Sydney thing; ‘conspicuous consumption’ as my son Hugh and junior cricket team mate of Paul said. ‘Nothing succeeds like excess’. Oscar Wilde would have felt at home.

It was an amazing day. I was a sceptic. I’m not usually like that but I couldn’t see it working. That’s’ why Peter V’landys has his job; and I don’t have mine. In any case I’m delighted for all concerned. One of the main reasons I decided to write these ‘blogs’ was my conviction we weren’t doing enough as a community to applaud and recognize our outstanding citizens. The first major I wrote was ‘Scone Bred Champion’ about Peter. I rate Peter and Paul Snowdon in that category. I’m thrilled by their success. Peter’s spouse and Pauls’ mother Lyn (nee Cribb) is right up there too. I’m proud to have known both sides of the family for over 50 years. Paul was in my junior cricket team with my son Hugh. He could play a straight bat even then.

‘Everest Day’ at Randwick was a great occasion for Scone and the Upper Hunter. Apart from the ‘Redzel’ triumph other local representatives in the field of twelve included ‘Houtzen’(Late Noel Leckie & Toby Edmonds)  and ‘Clearly Innocent’ (Greg Bennett & Bruce Neill of ‘Cressfield’). Unlucky first emergency ‘In Her Time’ won the consolation Sydney Stakes for Ben Smith. His father Ian (‘Ginge’) Smith and his grandparents are solid friends; also from Scone. I could go on. I think 83% of runners were sired by Upper Hunter-based stallions.

I think I’ll sneak out and have a drink with one of Peter Snowdon’s very first patrons. I know where to find him. Stockman and shearer Geoff Palmer will be in the bottom bar at the Belmore Hotel at 5:30pm as usual. I’ll report more a little later. It’s a good story.

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GUNSYND – Again

We’re just going through another phase of massive national euphoria with the superlative performances of ‘Winx’. Good mate Rick Wright has composed his poetic tribute ‘What About Winx’. We’ve barely had time to recover from similar passions pertaining to ‘Black Caviar’ and ‘Makybe Diva’. ‘Champion’ and ‘Best Ever’ epithets make their customary and consistent revivals. Unresolved pub arguments will always prevail. Speaking of exultation the first running of the innovative ‘The Everest’ has literally ‘scaled the heights’. I deal with this separately under an eponymous title with a further encomium to victorious Scone-bred locals Peter and Paul Snowdon

Anyone under the age of fifty will not remember the ‘Goondiwindi Grey’? Gunsynd may not have been the same ‘champion’ performer as the three racing mares cited above. However for those of us around in the early 1970s his was the name on everyone’s lips. Gunsynd was ‘the people’s horse’ more so than any other truly capturing the imagination of the general public. He had his own dedicated song. You can familiarize yourself by listening to the excellent recording with Tex Morton:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEaEr1Ozq0M

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjYOzqEMAHg

Even now this ditty causes the fewer hairs on the back of my neck to ‘pilo-erect’; while goose bumps can and do appear. The legend surrounding Gunsynd’s breeding and race performances are well documented. What is not so well known is he had his final racecourse appearance at Scone Race Club’s White Park Race Track Cup Meeting in May 1973. Having retired and been syndicated for stud duties at Kia Ora Stud by the incomparable George Ryder this was his final ‘public reception’ before retreating to do what stallions do. George had no peer when it came to promotion, publicity and advertising. He was the ultimate entrepreneurial ‘hussler’. Even Bobby Riggs would have lost in straight sets.

The featured image shows ‘Gunsynd’ with race jockey Kevin Langby up in racing colours of the Goondiwindi syndicate. He is attended by Kia Ora Stud Manager Jim Gibson resplendent in very stylish pork-pie hat. The young lady pictured represented the public relations company employed by George Ryder.

Langby gently cantered ‘Gunsynd’ down the short straight at White Park in front of a massive rapturous and wildly appreciative crowd. As a junior committeeman I was on duty that day; as a gate attendant! We used to do that. We almost had to push people through the gate it was so full. Our records show and photos vindicate the claim this was by far the largest crowd ever attracted to the Scone Cup; itself a perennially popular drawcard. I recall a young man leaving straight after ‘Gunsynd’ had paraded. ‘Now I can die happy that I’ve seen him I can go home’ he said as left through the gate. ‘Where’s home’ I asked? ‘Far North Queensland’ he replied. He had driven 2000kms south and was turning around to do the same thing straight back! Such was the magnetic attraction and captivating mercurial appeal of ‘Gunsynd’!

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I adduce my good friend Brian Russell. He (correctly) writes that the preeminent breeders of thoroughbreds in NSW in the first part of the 20th century were the Moses Brothers of Arrowfield. I include the full version of his recitation.

See also: https://kingsoftheturf.com/1924-cecil-godby-jack-corteen-and-heroic/

Ian Ibbett has as usual related the tale superbly in his own inimitable style. (See above). My good friend Bill Moses and grandson of F A (‘Fred’) Moses, now 87, fondly recalls the good old days at ‘Combadello’ with palpable relish.

Australia’s best breeders of last century

Brian Russell reviews the success of the Moses brothers in Hunter Valley 1900-1925

When Fred Moses, principal of the Kanangra agistment farm in the Scone district, and his horse training wife Mary attended the annual sire parade at the Jerrys Plains, Hunter Valley located breeding giant Coolmore late last August, he was fully aware of the big association his family had into the early history of this Hunter River nurtured, richly soiled country, but may not have realised that 2016 was the ninetieth anniversary of the death at the age of 64 of one of the men responsible for that input, his grandfather Fred Moses’ brother and partner William Moses.

Representatives of a leading north western NSW pastoral family, the Moses brothers developed Arrowfield into one of Australia’s premier studs in the first quarter of last century through use of quality sire prospects and well bred mares. In fact, considering that it was rare at that time for a sire to have as many as forty foals in a year, analyses of their production achievement suggests they challenge as Australia’s most successful breeders.

Their most rewarding investment was the purchase in England in 1919 after he had a season of blue blooded mid-road 2400m performer Valais (GB). Foaled in 1913, he was a chestnut son of the 1905 English Derby winner Cicero (Cyllene – Gas, by Ayrshire) and Lily of the Valley (Martagon – Hamptonia, by Hampton).

Unfortunately, the Moses brothers did not enjoy the full glory of Valais’ success as a sire for on the eve of attaining what was to be the first of five successive champion Australian sire titles, that of 1923-24, they dispersed the Arrowfield stud, possibly because of William Moses poor health.

Held in April 1924, the sale saw new Australian records secured for a sire, Valais (14,400 gns – $28,944), and broodmare, the Moses importation Chersonese (GB) (5,100 gns – $10,710), a daughter of the modest Cyllene racehorse and sire Cylgad and distinguished performer and matriarch Chelandry.

The 135 lots catalogue also included the proven sires Poitrel (1914, St Alwyne (GB) – Poinard, by Metal (GB) 1850 gns – $3,885 and his 25-year-old sire St Alwyne (GB) (1899, St. Frusquin – Florence, by Cambello)  200 gns  – $420

Bred and raced by the Moses brothers after he failed to reach his 300 gns – $630 reserve at the Sydney yearling sales, Poitrel won17 races (two of them dead-heats) in 37 starts, including the Melbourne Cup (1920).  His career included wins over immortals Desert Gold, Gloaming, Beauford and Eurythmic.

Poitrel was one of two Melbourne Cup winners sired by St  Alwyne, the other being the C. L. Macdonald, Victoria bred gelding Night Watch (1918). Runner Up in the 1917 Caulfield Cup, Night Watch was out of another immortal of the turf in Wakeful.

In addition four offspring of St Alwyne bred at Arrowfield by the Moses contested the 28-runner 1914 Melbourne Cup, namely Sir Alwynton (a neck second; race record time), St Carwyne (4th, won AJC Metropolitan), Gladwyn (10th, won Moonee Valley Cup twice) and Allingamite (13th)

Using St Alwyne, they also bred Lady Medallist (won VATC Caulfield Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, VRC October Stakes, AJC Craven Plate, Taranaki Cup – twice, Wanganui Guineas), her brother Moorilla (won 1911 Sydney Cup) and brother and sister Sir Alwyne (won Western Australian Derby) and Alwina, the mother of Peter Pan, the Hall of Famer who won two Melbourne Cups.

A son of the imported Tracery sire Pantheon (GB), a winner of the Randwick Plate (3200m) twice and third in the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, Peter Pan was bred and raced by Rodney Rouse Dangar (1872-1952). He was a scion of one of the most distinguished Hunter Valley pioneering families, one, who based in the Singleton district, played big roles in the development of the thoroughbred in the region.

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